In 2022, Apple dominated the smartphone market by capturing eight spots in the list of top 10 best-selling smartphones, a thing that no other brand has ever achieved. The remaining two spots were taken by Samsung, marking a slight improvement from the previous year. The top-10 list contributed to 19% of the total global smartphone sales, the same as in 2021, indicating that the market remains highly competitive.
Apple’s iPhone 13 was the best-selling smartphone of 2022, contributing 28% of iPhone sales. It was the best-selling smartphone in major markets such as China, US, UK, Germany, and France. The iPhone 13 remained the number one smartphone each month from its launch in September 2021 till August 2022. Additionally, price cuts after the iPhone 14 series’ launch further drove the iPhone 13 volumes in developing markets. The iPhone 13 sales were two times more than that of the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the second best-selling smartphone in 2022.
Interestingly, for the first time, a Pro Max variant of an iPhone series drove more volume than its Pro and base models in 2022. It helped the iPhone 14 Pro Max to capture the third spot in the 2022 list. The iPhone 14 Pro Max sales were led by early adopters and those upgrading to a higher iPhone variant. The major advancements in the iPhone 14 Pro series, such as dynamic island and faster processor, made it more attractive. The base model is almost identical to the previous year’s model.
The Global Top 10 best selling smartphones in 2022
The iPhone 12, the best-selling smartphone of 2021, was the oldest model in the top 10 for 2022. Its sales remained robust in the US, Japan, and China. The price cuts with each year’s new iPhone launch increased its value proposition, while its 5G capability also played an important role. The iPhone SE 2022, among the most compact phones in the industry, grabbed the tenth spot. Like its predecessor, it managed to sell well in Japan.
Samsung, on the other hand, took two spots on the list with its entry-level models Galaxy A13 and Galaxy A03, marking a slight improvement from the previous year. The two models were the only LTE smartphones to make it to the list. The contribution of these models was spread more evenly than in the case of iPhones.
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Offering attractive specifications for its price (<$250), the Galaxy A13, like its predecessor, continued to perform well. Caribbean and Latin America (CALA), followed by India, contributed the most to its sales. The Galaxy A03 was the most affordable smartphone on the list and the only one powered by UNISOC. The smartphone performed well in developing regions like CALA and the Middle East and Africa (MEA).
It is expected that the share of the top 10 smartphones will increase in 2023 as brands focus on clearing inventory and optimizing their launches. Brands will continue making their portfolios smaller in 2023. The number of active smartphone models in the global market has already fallen from over 4,200 in 2021 to around 3,600 in 2022. At the same time, brands will focus on their portfolios’ premiumization to translate volumes into profitability.
Verdict
In 2022, Apple dominated the top 10 best-selling smartphones, taking eight spots with Samsung taking the remaining two spots. The iPhone 13 was the best-selling smartphone of 2022, contributing to 28% of iPhone sales. And remaining the number one smartphone each month from its launch in September 2021 till August 2022. The Pro Max variant of the iPhone 14 series drove more volume than its Pro and base models, helping it to capture the third spot in the 2022 list. The iPhone 12, the best-selling smartphone of 2021, remained robust in sales in the US, Japan, and China. The Galaxy A13 and Galaxy A03 from Samsung took two spots on the list, one more than the previous year. In 2023, brands are expected to continue making their portfolios smaller and focus on the premium segment.
